Bungling duo play wrong card
FRAUDSTERS CAUGHT OUT AFTER GOING ON A SPENDING SPREE IN BLYTH
A PAIR of bungling bankcard fraudsters were easily tracked down after they went on a spending spree at five shops in one day.
Couple Nathan Garrett and Amy Kehoe, had stolen the card from an unsuspecting woman in Blyth in October last year and decided to immediately splash the cash.
However, the victim soon became aware her credit card was missing after she was contacted by her bank, a court was told.
The police were informed and it did not take officers long to see where the stolen card was being used, allowing them to swoop in and arrest Garrett, 36, and Kehoe, 32.
The pair, of Beaumont Street, in Blyth, have both been given community orders after they each pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and one of theft by finding.
Keith Laidlaw, prosecuting at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court, said the victim did not realise her bankcard was missing until she was contacted by her bank on October 3 last year.
He added: “The bank informed her where her card was being used and the police followed that up.
“Once it was used at Morrisons, where £12.06 worth of goods were obtained, once at Wilkos for £5.50, once at Poundland and once at Waterloo News, all in Blyth.
“Lastly, the defendants tried to use the card again at Morrisons but the lady had cancelled her card by that point so an attempt to buy £15 worth of goods was unsuccessful.”
The court heard that Garrett and Kehoe had helped themselves to the credit card when they saw someone drop it in the street.
The victim has, however, been fully reimbursed by her bank.
Graham Crouth, for Garrett, said he had been out of trouble since 2018.
He added: “They were both suffering financially at the time. It was opportunistic in finding the card.”
Glenn Reardon, representing Kehoe, said: “It was simply an opportunistic offence and one she deeply regrets.
“The catalyst was destitute living conditions.”
The pair were both given 12-month community orders and were each fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £95 victim surcharge.